Salcombe Yacht Club Autumn Series - Race 4
by David Greening 26 Sep 2016 19:01 BST
18 September 2016
With a forecast of gale force gusts out of the South and some of the juniors away at Weymouth, the turnout for Race 4 of the Salcombe Yacht Club Autumn series was depleted; however the no shows missed one of the most enjoyable races of the year.
Race Officer Andrew Squire set the classic Blackstone Gerston Blackstone Crossways course to the satisfaction of those involved.
The largest turnout was for the Solos, with a lot of pressure to start on the Portlemouth shore to benefit from the pin end bias. Graham Cranford-Smith showed excellent form to round Blackstone in first place, but the pursuing pack, led by Bill Jago were close on his heels and headed to the Town shore, ensuring a nail biting run through the harbour and Bag with nine boats vying for pole position.
Bill Jago judged the route past Tosnos Point perfectly and established a useful lead at Saltstone, while Cranford-Smith, the early leader had an unexpected capsize. Cleaves, Gibbens, Dobson and Greening rounded Gerston close behind Jago, but the close racing between this quartet played into the hands of Jago, who built on his lead by the finish, with Cleaves in second, and Dobson snatching third place from Gibbens at the finish line.
Race 4 Results:
Medium Handicap
1st Laser Radial 203307, Charlie Blazeby
2nd Aero 7 1505, Tim Fells
3rd Laser Radial 190664, Elodie Grenen
Fast Handicap
1st Phantom 1357, Alistair Morley
2nd RS400 1421, John and Annie McLaren
3rd Merlin Rocket 3621, Tristram and Laura Squire
Solo
1st 5598, Bill Jago
2nd 5573, Chris Cleaves
3rd 5678, Simon Dobson
Salcombe Yawl
1st 97, Andrew Wood and Ru McColl